Ireland Brewery & Distillery Vacation

“May you always have a clean shirt, a clear conscience, and enough coins in your pocket to buy a pint!”

– AN IRISH TOAST BY SOMEONE WHO WAS PROBABLY ON AN IRELAND BREWERY VACATION

Céad míle fáilte (a hundred thousand welcomes)! Despite being a relatively small country, Ireland has made some fairly big contributions to worldwide beer culture. Chances are when you hear the words “Irish pub” you can conjure up a pretty distinct image that has been imitated around the globe. Irish beer history reaches all the way back to the Bronze age when the first form of beer in Ireland is believed to have been brewed, though a variety of plants and herbs took the place of hops. And taking a look at modern day, Ireland is experiencing a craft beer boom, developing new creative brews around the country.

Gather a group of your fellow beer enthusiasts as we spend our days visiting breweries, sipping at distilleries, and wandering through small towns and larger cities on this Ireland Brewery Vacation. Our evenings are spent in accommodations that range from fun and modern hotels to warm and welcoming country guesthouses.

We’ll explore breweries ranging from the very well-known such as Guinness to smaller, newer craft breweries you likely have never heard of. And as a change of pace, we’ll also sample a bit of the harder stuff and visit a few whiskey distilleries.

We’ll pair our beer experiences by visiting some of the top natural sights in the country such as the Rock of Cashel, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Dingle Peninsula. You will have the option to participate in a few splendid, picturesque walks throughout the Irish countryside and coastline. The walks are generally suitable for most people. Or you can spend extra time relaxing, sightseeing, or shopping.

Please Note: We may need to adjust our itinerary to accommodate any changes and availability. We will keep you informed of these changes and promise to find equal or better experiences if needed.

Ireland Beer Tour Details

• Tour Dates: 2024 – private tour only: choose your own dates
• Trip Price Per Person: $4,250
• Single Supplement: $900
• Guide: Yannick de Cocquéau
• Activity Level: Brewery Tours, Distillery Visits, Sightseeing, and optional Walks
• Meals:  All breakfasts, two lunches, and five dinners are included. Gratuity for these meals is also included.
• General Tour FAQs

“It was great. Thought we got way more than our money’s worth with the amount of food & drinks included in the tour. It makes me want to use Taste Vacations for our next trip.” -Beer Tour Guest

Day 1: Welcome to Dublin!

Fáilte (Welcome) to Ireland! Our adventure starts at 1:00 PM, allowing you to arrive in Dublin this morning or the day before (which we highly recommend). After a few short introductions, we head out on a short educational and fun walking tour of Dublin to learn about the history and culture of this incredible city. We end our tour at Guinness’s Storehouse, located in the heart of the St. James’s Gate Brewery. We’ll enjoy an engaging self-guided tour that ends with a pint of their iconic beer and instruction on how to properly pour it.

We’ll then head over to the Guinness Open Gate Experimental Brewery to taste some of the new creations. We finish things off with a wonderful welcome dinner at Porterhouse Brewing. After dinner, you can walk back to our hotel or head out for a drink in Dublin’s oldest pub dating back to 1198, The Brazen Head.

Day 2: Traditional Brewing

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll head out on the road for our first brewery stop of the day. But first we’ll stop at the Rock of Dunamase, the ruins of an ancient Celtic where we can wander around on our own – no visitor center or entrance fee here. It is then on to Ballykilcavan Brewery for a farm tour, brewery visit, and charcuterie beer pairing lunch – 13 generations and 383 years in one family!

After lunch we travel on with a visit to the Whitefield Brewery, which gets great reviews for its quality beers using traditional Irish styles and ingredients, and then on to our home for the night in Killarney. This is our longest drive day, four hours, as we get to the lovely southwest corner of Ireland. Dinner tonight is in the pizza pub of Killarney Brewing.

Day 3: West Cork

We depart this morning for 9 White Deer Brewing in the region of West Cork, an area known for the high number of people who speak Irish on a daily basis.

We then move on to the cute village of Kenmare where you can enjoy lunch on your own, followed by a visit to Tom Creane Brewery, a very new establishment (November of 2019) with a rustic taproom and with owners sporting super interesting backgrounds.

We’ll then shuttle to the Gap of Dunloe, an incredibly scenic mountain pass where we’ll have the optional to take a scenic boat ride or walk on trails and small roads to Kate Kearney’s Cottage, an Irish pub with 170 years of history and a good place to grab a pint if you so desire. Dinner is Killarney Brewing Company’s second location, the main brewery, preceded by a tour of their distillery.

Day 4: Dingle

Our destination today is one of the cutest and most scenically-located villages in Ireland: Dingle. We’ll break up the drive there by stopping en route at various overlooks over the Atlantic ocean, or by doing a walk on the Three Peaks Annascaul Meelin Hill Loop, also with views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Arriving in Dingle, you’ll have time for lunch on your own at one of the many restaurants on the main street of town.

After lunch we’ll meet at the Dingle Distillery for a tasting. While they are currently closed for tours, we’ll get them to open up their warehouse for a tasting for our group. We then switch back to beer with a visit to Dick Mack’s, a pub that has been in operation and in the same family since 1899, with a recently added brewhouse. With outdoor seating it is a great place to spend the remainder of the afternoon.

We’ll then check into our central Dingle hotel before walking to dinner at Ashes Restaurant, which offers local seafood as well as other traditional dishes.

Day 5: The Coast

The Dingle Peninsula and Ireland’s southwest coast was named “The most beautiful place on earth” by National Geographic magazine. We’ll drive to the very end of that beautiful peninsula to look out over the Atlantic, at Slea Head, with room to stretch your legs if you so desire.

After, we’ll head to the West Kerry Brewery, the original and first microbrewery in County Kerry, brewing traditional yet progressive beers.

We’ll then depart over Connor Pass for the town of Limerick and a tour and tasting at Treaty City Brewery, started by an Irish expat living in Vancouver, BC who started as a home brewer before moving back to Limerick.

Dinner this evening is at a local pub – with an optional visit to Mother Mac’s craft beer bar for one last drink before heading to bed.

Day 6: Cliffs & Irish Whiskey

If Dingle is stunningly beautiful, the Cliffs of Moher are truly breathtaking. The Cliffs are a part of the UNESCO Global Geopark (a special region with outstanding geology) and rise an impressive 702 feet above the Atlantic Ocean at their highest points. We’ll walk along the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Trail, taking in their raw natural beauty.

Next, we’ll make a stop at Burren Brewing with lunch at their associated Peter’s Pub.

After lunch, we’ll stop at Burren Distillers, a new company that is making Irish Whiskey in the spirit of the 13th century monks who first started distilling in the Burren region. It is then on to Galway, our home for the night, where you are free to have dinner on your own and perhaps an after-dinner drink at one of the many local pubs in the city.

Day 7: One last hurrah

After breakfast, we’ll hit the road back to Dublin. But first it is one more brewery stop, this one at Galway Bay Brewery, one of Ireland’s larger craft breweries, for a tour and tasting. We’ll then say our farewells and drop you off at the Dublin airport for you to either hop on a flight home or continue exploring what Ireland has to offer.

Beer Tour Highlights

• Guinness’s Storehouse
• Guinness Open Gate Experimental Brewery
• Porterhouse Brewing
• The Brazen Head
• Ballykilcavan Brewery
• Whitefield Brewery
• 9 White Deer Brewing
• Tom Creane Brewery
• Killarney Brewing Company’s
• Dingle Distillery
• Dick Mack’s
• West Kerry Brewery
• Treaty City Brewery
• Mother Mac’s craft beer bar
• Burren Brewing
• Burren Distillers
• Galway Bay Brewery

*Please note updates to the outlined itinerary may occur due to changes in availability of breweries and to accommodate new opportunities that arise.

NIGHT 1 >> ASHLING HOTEL / DUBLIN

Located in the heart of Dublin’s city center, this 4-star luxury hotel overlooks the Guinness Brewery and Phoenix Park. If you arrive to Dublin early, this is also nicely situated to explore the city on your own. The hotel has a spa, restaurant, bar, and even a small outdoor dining area. It is the perfect starting point for a week of adventure!

NIGHTS 2 & 3 >> ABBEY LODGE / KILLARNEY

This four-star hotel is situated in central Killarney, right across from Killarney Brewing, which we visit on the tour. And with the center of town being only three minutes walk away, you can easily stroll to see the sights, shops, and pubs of Killarney. With only 15 rooms, this small inn is a nice size with personal hospitality.

NIGHT 4 >> DINGLE BAY HOTEL / DINGLE

The Dingle Bay Hotel is located in the heart of Dingle, right next to the marina. It is Dingle’s most modern hotel, with up-to-date comforts but a very welcoming atmosphere. Dingle itself is one of the cutest small towns in Ireland – which has plenty from which to choose! And if you are ready for a bit of Irish fun, Paudie’s bar at the hotel is a local favorite.

NIGHT 5 >> THE GEORGE / LIMERICK

This boutique-style hotel boasts an eclectic mix of contemporary style and comfort in a perfect central location, right in Limerick’s city center. At four stars you get all the luxury you need but you will be tempted to spend your free time wandering the streets of Limerick near the hotel.

NIGHT 6 >> THE DEAN / GALWAY

Located in the heart of Eyre Square in the center of Galway, this hotel offers warm and inviting accommodations amongst the hustle and bustle of the city. While the facade seems ultra modern, the hotel was built using part of an 1800s building that was in the location and also a section of the Galway to Clifden railway tunnel.

Please note: Hotels are subject to availability.  If listed hotel is not available, a hotel that is equal or better to the original will be secured. Hotels may have smaller hotel rooms than you are used to and there are not usually elevators, so pack lightly! (If you have traveled in Europe before, then you know what to expect.)